# existent

/ɛɡˈzɪstənt/ (US) · /ɛɡzˈɪstənt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/existent
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. currently existing

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal

real or currently in being, rather than imagined or planned.

For teachers: having actual being; currently existing or occurring in reality. Often used in formal or academic contexts to contrast with potential or hypothetical states.

- The law only applies to existent companies, not those that are still being planned.
- The researcher argued that we must address existent social inequalities before we can implement the proposed economic reforms.

Usage: Usually placed before the noun it describes.

### 2. a being

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Formal

something that exists as its own separate thing.

For teachers: an entity or being that has independent existence. This sense is largely restricted to philosophical texts.

- The philosopher wrote about the difference between a thought and a physical existent.
- In his early metaphysical treatises, he categorised every physical existent as a manifestation of a higher spiritual order.

Teaching tip: This noun sense is very rare in modern English; learners will almost exclusively encounter 'existent' as an adjective.

## Examples

- The species is still existent in some parts of the rainforest.
- Scientists are currently mapping all existent species of deep-sea coral to better understand the impact of climate change.
- The philosopher argued that for a concept to be meaningful, it must refer to an existent object or a verifiable phenomenon within the physical world.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.